‘Act like justices’, solon tells SC magistrates in Sereno ‘snub’

Akbayan Partylist Representative Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao. FACEBOOK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Wednesday called on the seven senior associate justices who reportedly “snubbed” newly appointed Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno to be professional and set aside personal differences.

Akbayan Partylist Representative Arlene “Kaka” Bag-ao pointed out that the decision to appoint Sereno came from President Benigno Aquino III himself and should be accepted by members of the Supreme Court who should start working on reforms in the judiciary instead of allowing personal conflicts to get in the way.

“Ang Pangulo ay nagsalita na. Magtrabaho na sila, ang dami pang pending cases… Magpakajustice na sila,” she urged.

Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Arturo Brion, Presbitero Velasco and Martin Villarama Jr. were no-shows in Sereno’s first flag raising ceremony since being appointed chief magistrate.

Bag-ao said that the associate justices should show “statemanship” and respect to Sereno as members of the high court, despite the fact that more senior justices were bypassed in her appointment. Personal conflicts only slowed down the pace of the judiciary’s work, she added.